United States envoy George Mitchell is continuing efforts to salvage stalled Middle East peace talks as rumors of a U.S. compromise proposal on the contentious issue of West Bank settlements are being leaked to the media. Mitchell, who has been holding talks in the region since Tuesday, will meet separately with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu again today. European Union foreign policy Chief Catherine Ashton is holding concurrent meetings with Mr. Abbas and Mr. Netanyahu to lend EU support for the continuation of negotiations.Mitchell and Ashton are trying to persuade the Palestinians to remain in direct talks with Israel despite the end of the settlement freeze. Palestinians say settlement expansion is the key issue that will determine whether they will continue talks. After his meeting with Mr. Abbas Thursday, Mitchell said negotiators were continuing efforts to find common ground between the two sides.